Hot Seat: Media Monday with journalist Rocco LaDuca 9/30/24
For more on the Hot Seat: Media Monday, visit our show page.
This episode of Hot Seat: Media Monday featured journalist Rocco LaDuca. He first came to prominence as a crime reporter for the Observer-Dispatch, where he wrote a groundbreaking series of articles called “The Mob Files.” After that, he worked as communications director for New York State Senator Joseph Griffo; then, he joined WUTQ 100.7 FM’s morning show Talk of the Town as one of three co-hosts. In our interview, we discussed journalism, media, and government and the importance of transparency, and accountability, while maintaining strict ethical standards.
Rocco LaDuca started his career as a journalist at the Observer Dispatch newspaper in 2004. He left in 2015 to work for Senator Joe Griffo. In 2019, he returned to journalism as a host on Talk of the Town on 100.7 FM.
Rocco LaDuca said that he was drawn to journalism because he was interested in other people and their stories. He also said that he was influenced by David Letterman, who he watched on television in the 1990s. He said that he learned a lot about journalism while working at the Observer Dispatch. He also said that he was grateful for the opportunity to work with Donna Donovan, who was the publisher at the time, and editors and writers such as Dave Dedajek, Frank Tomaino, Mike Killian, and John Pitarresi.
Rocco LaDuca said that he believes that the future of journalism is bright. He also said that he believes that it is important for journalists to be fair, objective, and compassionate.
Scroll down for the entire show, highlight reels, links, and other resources and show notes.
Hot Seat: Media Monday, 9-30-24, pt. 1
Hot Seat: Media Monday, 9-30-24, pt. 2
#HotSeatMediaMinute “I never wanted a break from crime stories” – Journalist Rocco LaDuca on his work as a crime reporter and the complexity of covering stories about difficult and sensitive topics while maintaining balance.
#HotSeatMediaMinute “Every journalist should do some kind of job like that. It opened my eyes to a lot of the stuff that goes on behind the scenes in politics,” Rocco LaDuca, on his transition from being a reporter with the Observer-Dispatch to becoming Communications Director for Senator Joseph Griffo
#HotSeatMediaMinute “They need a voice; they need someone to tell their story.” -Journalist Rocco LaDuca on how the experience of being a crime reporter has broadened and deepened his perspective about covering those accused of crimes as well as crime victims.
Rocco LaDuca is online at Instagram.com/radioroccstar/ and Rocco LaDuca (@RoccoLaDuca) / X Read his work: Day 2: The Mob Files, Day 3: The Mob Files, Day 4: The Mob Files, Day 5: The Mob Files, Day 6: The Mob Files and https://muckrack.com/rocco-laduca.
WUTQ’s Talk of the Town is online at wutqfm.com/, instagram.com/talkofthetownutica/,X.com/_talkfm, https://soundcloud.com/wutq-talk-of-the-town, and Facebook.com/TalkoftheTownUtica.
Ron Klopfanstein is an award-winning multimedia investigative journalist, news and features editor, and creative content producer for the Utica Phoenix digital platform and 95.5 FM “The Heat” broadcast and streaming. He also hosts Hot Seat: Media Monday every Monday at 5 pm, broadcast on 95.5 FM and streaming at 955TheHeat.com. Like him at Facebook.com/ReadRonKlopfanstein, Follow him at Threads.net/@RonKlopfanstein, Instagram.com/RonKlopfanstein, Twitter.com/RonKlopfanstein, Tiktok.com/@ronklopfanstein, and subscribe to his channel at YouTube.com/@RonKlopfanstein. Read all his work at Muckrack.com/ron-klopfanstein.
